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Wednesday, February 25, 2004
More speak up for priest
CEBU CITY -- More people have come out to speak in defense of Fr. Eliseo Fernandez on the accusations of immoral conduct allegedly committed by the priest.
In a faxed message Tuesday, the parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi in Balamban, Cebu, Fernandez’s hometown, also vouched for his integrity.
“We would like to attest to the uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical life of Rev. Fr. Eliseo Fernandez…. He is gentle, loving, friendly, sociable and pro-poor,” their statement read.
Bebie Lucero, one of the signatories of the statement, said Fernandez has never committed questionable acts during his residency in Balamban.
Fr. Oscar Camomot, spiritual director of Fernandez, also said the priest’s transfer was not because of the alleged immoral conduct.
He refused to comment further during a phone interview Tuesday.
A family from Sibonga asked Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal to transfer Fernandez for his involvement with their female siblings.
The cardinal said this issue was “something that was solved already.” The transfer of Fernandez was the “petition of the priest himself,” Vidal told Sun.Star last night in an interview after his mass for peaceful elections at the Archbishop Palace grounds.
A source close to the family revealed that Fernandez allegedly got drunk during a party thrown by the family and reportedly spent the night inside the 28-year-old woman’s room.
The family of the complainant reportedly holds a photograph as evidence against the priest, who served as assistant parish priest in the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Sibonga in southern Cebu for six months.
Some parishioners who defended Fernandez asked Vidal not to allow his transfer.
Some of them said he was framed by an organization that wants to take control of church funds.
Fernandez, who was replaced by Fr. Vicente Resaba last Feb. 14, reportedly advocated for the parish to relax the arancel system or the payment for the sacraments.
Sibonga Municipal Councilor Rey Apuda, a former member of the Parish Pastoral Council, said he finds it hard to believe the allegations against Fr. Fernandez.
“That should be investigated because the parishioners were greatly affected. He has done a lot for the town. He made the parish come alive again,” he said.
His claim is similar to that of the members of the Catholic Women’s League, students, faculty and alumni of the Our Lady of the Pillar Academy, who appealed to Vidal not to allow the “malice of some people to destroy him (Fernandez) completely.” CYR of Sun.Star Cebu
(February 25, 2004 issue)
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